Melissa Rizzo

Melissa Rizzo joined Adams and Reese in 2010 following the firm's expansion into Tampa. A Partner in the Special Business Services Practice Group, Melissa is a first chair intellectual property litigator with a track record of successful results in multi-jurisdictional disputes, proceedings before the United States Trademark Trial and Appeal Board, and trademark, patent, and copyright infringement litigation in United States federal courts.

Melissa is a chemical engineer who graduated first in her law school class - but her approach to litigation is not academic. Prior to attending law school, she worked as a process engineer for a major oil refiner. In this role, she used her chemical engineering degree to manage, troubleshoot, and optimize the day-to-day and long-term operation of several refinery units. Melissa also was active in the planning and execution of turnarounds for several major refinery units, and in that role, she participated in catalyst loading, vessel inspection, and unit shutdowns and start-ups.

Melissa is a licensed patent attorney with prosecution experience before the United States Patent and Trademark Office in a variety of technical fields, including the chemical, electrical, mechanical, and biomedical arts.